Originally the prestigious game of baccarat was associated with the rich and famous. In the game’s early days, if you wanted to see some fine tuxedo’s and designer gowns you needed only find a baccarat table. Why so elite? It used to be that the game would be played with cold hard cash on the table but, thanks to casino chips and online casinos, it’s a lot more accessible nowadays. This is great news for casino enthusiasts who love the game but don’t love getting all dressed up.

The objective of baccarat is to make a hand value of nine. All cards use their face value and the face cards have no value at all. It’s an entertaining game to play which is why it has enjoyed its status as one of the most popular games in the casino. The long history of the game, in our opinion, is just as fascinating. Here are a few fun facts that we managed to dig up on the subject of baccarat.

Everybody knows that James Bond was fond of baccarat but few know this: when Bond plays against Xenia in Goldeneye, his last hand against her is a king and a queen and a six and this turns out to be a winning hand. Because all face cards have the value of 0, the value of his cards was, in order, 006 the code name of the movies villain, Alec Trevelyan.

The 1970s musical stylist, Burt Bacharach has nothing to do with Baccarat.

Baccarat has a relatively low house edge. The ‘banker bet’ for a 6 or 8 deck show is 1.06%. On the first night that the game was played at the Sands Casino in Las Vegas, the Sands loses were $250,000 in one night. And the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia lost $55 million in one month alone.

When the game came to North America by way of various other colonies the game changed slightly to remove the element of skill and it was known as Punto Banco which translates from Spanish as “player”, “banker”

Mini-baccarat is a version of the game that features lower table limits and simplified rules. This version has attracted players with a more moderate bankroll and thus can be accredited for popularizing the game we now all love to play.

Now that you know a bit more about this iconic casino game you may just feel inclined to give it a try. Next time you’re in the mood to play something a little classier, keep in mind that there are is a seat with your name on it at Bodog Casino.

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If you want to stay classy, play Baccarat. This is an elegant, sophisticated game. It’s James Bond’s favourite (see: Dr. No, Thunderball and For Your Eyes Only). Don’t worry, it’s not hard to pick up. There are six decks, two players, and you’re going head-to-head with the Banker. And who doesn’t love beating a money-grubbing banker? Let’s take a closer look at the strategy behind Baccarat.

How to Play Baccarat

Baccarat is a very straightforward game. You can bet on the Player, the Banker, or a Tie. Two cards are dealt to the Player and the Banker, and the one with a higher value wins. Aces count as one. Cards between 2 and 9 are face value, and the remaining cards are equivalent to zero. The two cards in hand will be added up for the total value, but if the value is in double digits, 10 will be subtracted from the total value. For example, if there are two Sixes, the value ends up being 2. The Player goes first and if the hand’s total value is between 0 and 5, then another card can be drawn. If the Banker’s hand total is 7, 8 or 9, then a new card is not drawn, but if the total is 0, 1 or 2, then a new card is drawn. If the Banker is between 3 and 6, then it depends on what the Player is holding, and you can refer to the Baccarat chart in game guide.

Betting In Baccarat

When you’re betting in Baccarat, you’re looking to choose who will end up with the highest hand total. The highest total is 9. Face cards and 10s are worth zero, and any score above 9 will have 10 subtracted from it (so 11 is actually 1, 13 is actually 3, etc). Of course, you can pick Tie if you think there will be a tie between the Player and Banker.

If you bet the Player and win, you get an even money payout ($10 pays $10). If you bet the banker and win, you get an even money payout minus the 5% commission. So a $10 pays $9.50. Ties pay 9 to 1.

Basic Baccarat Strategy

Learn when the Banker takes a hit. For the most part, Baccarat is pretty straightforward, but you’ll want to understand when the Banker takes and doesn’t take another card. That is one of the intricacies of the game.

Keep track of your wins. Use a scorecard to keep track of who wins. You’ll want to examine the trends and develop an alternate betting pattern. The odds of winning are virtually 50-50, so you’ll want to keep track of the trends and vary your bet amounts.

When in doubt, bet on the Banker. When you’re not sure which way to go, side with the Banker and the house. There’s a very slight edge for the Banker’s hand over the Player’s hand, so that can work in your favour.

Go with your instincts. Baccarat is a game where you’ll have to trust your instincts. You can’t read the hand, so go with your gut, let loose and have some fun. This not the game you should over-think.

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Welcome to Bodog Casino Blog – the ultimate destination for players looking for the latest news and tips on all things casino.

The Bodog Casino blog is your one-stop shop for everything you’ll need to ensure you’re hitting our online casino in style. Here you’ll enjoy articles covering popular strategies and industry news, so you should be able to spin, shuffle and roll with the best of them.